Innovation

Jeni’s launched the Fellowship Model as a way to reimagine the traditional supply chain and build a more sustainable and equitable food system. Jeni’s focuses on creating deep, long-term partnerships with growers, dairies, and artisans who share a commitment to quality, sustainability, and community. Rather than sourcing anonymously through large distributors, Jeni’s connects directly with small producers, ensuring transparency, ethical labor practices, and environmental stewardship at every stage of production. This innovation supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals, #3 Good Health and Well-Being, #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, #12 Responsible Consumption and Production.

 Jeni’s ice cream business revolves around a mission to bring people together, which is accomplished through their “Fellowship Model.” The Fellowship Model’s purpose as described by Betsy is to work with partners in local communities. Betsy stated, “The Fellowship Model is about ensuring everyone in our ecosystem thrives, when our partners do well, we do well” (Betsy Blake, 2025). Jeni’s is committed to working with family farms within a 200 mile radius of their operations - their partnership with a dairy farm out of Orrville, Ohio, for example, is a testament to this commitment. Partnership with these providers ensures that Jeni's business model is true to its commitment of bringing people together. Further, Jeni’s partners with distilleries in Nashville, Tennessee, that honors the tradition and culture of Nearest Green, who taught Jack Daniel the art of distilling, as well as “The Peach Truck”, to supply in-season, ripened peaches, ensure that local communities see sustainable business. These partnerships, centered around forging partnership and community, also work to keep centuries-old tradition alive while also delivering high-quality products to customers. The result of this partner focused business model has been the curation of a scalable empire. When asked whether she see’s Jeni’s sustainable business model as scalable, Betsy attested that it absolutely is, saying, “You don’t have to compromise your values to grow, our success proves that” (Betsy Blake, 2025). That said, Jeni’s is always looking at ways it can improve its partnerships, and ensure that they make sense geographically speaking.

 One thing that Betsy touched on in our meeting with her were the non advertisable commitments incorporated into Jeni's business model. That said, things like equal employment and opportunities, and women’s ownership, are two goals and objectives held close at Jeni’s. When asked whether the company could track tangible results related to the implementation of these goals, Betsy mentioned that tracking results tangibly can be difficult, but can be seen in the strong community and partnerships the company has built throughout the years. As she explained, “The more you poured into doing the right thing, the more you could flourish” (Betsy Blake, 2025).

When asked whether the company could track tangible results related to the implementation of these goals, Betsy mentioned that tracking results tangibly can be difficult, but can be seen in the strong community and partnerships the company has forged throughout the years.

Partnerships for Change

Inspiration

The inspiration of the fellowship model came from the founder, Jeni. She started working at farmers’ markets and saw the people behind all of the vendors and shops. She realized this is what she wanted to bring with her with her own business -  community. Jeni’s has a strong commitment to fairness, sustainability, and community, and as a B-corporation, it tells its customers just that. Betsy states that, "We are proud of our B-corp certification and want people to know all the hard work that needs to be done to have thxsis credential." The transparency for showcasing the vendors on the company website and highlighting the good practices is just what Jeni’s is about. Customers can feel good about the ice cream they are eating because they know it's made with the best ingredients and the best people. By setting high standards for fair-trade, organic sourcing, and transparency, the company proved that success and ethics could not only coexist but could also fuel each other. 

Reflecting on her own journey, Betsy shared, “What inspires me every day is seeing how these relationships directly impact the quality of our ice creams and the lives of the people we work with. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that what we do contributes to a bigger mission — building a better food system and a better world.” Through her leadership, the Fellowship Model continues to evolve, setting a new standard for how businesses can align sourcing with purpose.

Overall impact

The Fellowship Model at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams was launched in the early 2010s as the company sought a more intentional and transparent approach to sourcing. By directly partnering with local farmers, dairies, and makers, Jeni’s built a supply chain centered around sustainability, quality, and economic development. In the short term, this innovation allowed Jeni’s to ensure fresher, higher-quality ingredients while strengthening relationships with small businesses. It also provided immediate economic stability to suppliers, as Jeni’s committed to premium pricing and long-term purchasing agreements that helped farms and producers plan and grow.

In the longer term, the Fellowship Model has significantly shaped both Jeni’s business practices and its partners’ development. Several farmers and artisans have been able to expand their operations thanks to consistent support from Jeni’s, encouraging economic stimulation in local areas. For example, Jeni’s partnership with Snowville Creamery and local fruit farms has contributed to the sustainability of family farms in Ohio and surrounding states. Evidence of this impact can be seen in Jeni’s growth into a nationally recognized brand, its certification as a B Corporation, and its recognition in sustainability-focused business awards and features. Additionally, customers increasingly seek out Jeni’s for its values as much as for its product quality, demonstrating a successful shift in consumer perception tied to the Fellowship Model.

In the short term, the fellowship model is seen in customer loyalty and a growing reputation for doing business differently. But in the long term, it’s become something bigger: a living example that growth doesn’t have to mean compromise. The evidence is everywhere — in the B-Corp certification to the 13,000 stores and "scoop shops" carrying their ice cream.

Business benefit

Jeni’s innovation of uniquely flavored ice-cream pairings, supported by its Fellowship Model and commitment to equal opportunities and ownership internally, have garnered strong business success as seen in its scalable business and strong community. Once a small “scoop-shop,” Jeni’s has continued to grow, now operating 47 storefronts nationwide and distributing product in over 3,000 grocery stores and through online ordering endeavors. While Jeni’s has reaped the benefits of its strong operations, through its partnerships local distilleries, farms, and small companies have been supported in turn. 

 Jeni's commitment to the Fellowship Model and working with family farms within a 200 mile radius of their operations - their partnership with a dairy farm out of Orrville, Ohio, for example, is a testament to this commitment. Partnership with these providers ensures that Jeni's business model is true to its commitment of bringing people together. Further, Jeni’s partners with distilleries in Nashville, Tennessee, that honors the tradition and culture of Nearest Green, who taught Jack Daniel the art of distilling, as well as “The Peach Truck”, to supply in-season, ripened peaches, ensure that local communities see sustainable business. These partnerships, centered around forging partnership and community, also work to keep centuries-old tradition alive while also delivering high-quality products to customers. The result of this partner focused business model has been the curation of a scalable empire. When asked whether she see’s Jeni’s sustainable business model as scalable, Betsy attested that it absolutely is. That said, Jeni’s is always looking at ways it can improve its partnerships, and ensure that they make sense geographically speaking.

Social and environmental benefit

In terms of society, the company shifts consumer expectations by showing that businesses can prioritize things like fairness, living wages, and ethical sourcing without having to sacrifice their long-term success. The fellowship model strengthens the notion of partnership and encourages other companies to adopt similar, higher standards.

Environmentally, the company is taking meaningful steps to measure its carbon footprint, actively addressing challenges like methane emissions from dairy production. By confronting its environmental impact head-on and working toward more sustainable practices, it sets a new standard for accountability in the food industry.

Ultimately, Jeni’s Fellowship Model shows how a business can serve as a catalyst for positive change. By connecting consumers to thoughtfully sourced products and showing that responsible choices lead to exceptional outcomes, Jeni’s encourages a shift toward more sustainable consumer behavior. Their model offers a blueprint for how the food industry can balance profitability with social and environmental responsibility.

Interview

Betsy Blake, Director of Sourcing